This post was supposed to be about Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu has been on my bucket list for years. But the part of my trip that made me fall in love with Peru was hiking the Andes on the Lares Trek. Don’t get me wrong: Machu Picchu was awe-inspiring and if I had just gone to Cusco I would be raving about what a great city Cusco is. But, our hike thru the Andes was what enchanted me.
Here is why:
1. Waking up to sunrise by a glacier fed lake2. Rush hour: A woman & her herd off to graze3. So. Many. Waterfalls. (Qanchis Paccha) 4. So. Many. Alpaca.
I’m told they limit departures on the Inca Trail to 500 people a day. On our whole 2 day hike we only saw a few locals, a handful of hikers, and LOTS of alpaca. Given this, I think our decision to not hike THE Inca Trail, but instead to hike an Inca trail was the right one. We hiked the Lares Trek from Huaran to Lares. This path took us through Cancha Cancha (3800m), over Pachacutec Pass (4200m), thru Quishurani (3700m) and on to Lares for a dip in their Thermal Springs.
Some tips if you decide to take a trek through the Peruvian Andes:
Our viewOur driver’s view*Use a good travel agency and guide. A lot can go wrong on your trip. During our trip there were road closures due to a general strike and we got a flat tire. We did not have to worry about any of this. We used Totally Latin America and our amazing guide, Ernesto, tweaked the hiking route and logistics to avoid the strike. Our driver, chef and porter handled the flat while we wandered in a nearby village. If Ernesto & team hadn’t been there to handle everything, either one of these could have ruined our trip.
Misminay, Sacred ValleyGive your yourself time to acclimate to the altitude. We spent a 1/2 day in Cusco and a full day touring the Sacred Valley before we started the trek. Even then, we all had some issues due to altitude – fortunately nothing serious. Here again, having a good guide is key. He kept tabs on how everyone was doing. He was prepared with oxygen and an extra horse in case anyone needed a break from the hiking.
Note: Our cooking class at Rooftop Kitchen in Cusco was the perfect activity first day activity – drinking pisco sours and eating ceviche and quinoa and enjoying an amazing view of the city. Delicious!
When my mind wanders back to Peru, that is where I am: Far away from the bustling city of Cusco and tourist throngs of Machu Picchu, up on the Lares Trek enjoying the fresh mountain air and breathtaking views.
Awesome!